CLEVELAND — The Bail Project is coming to Cleveland this summer.
If you’re not familiar with The Bail Project, the nonprofit pays bail for people who can’t afford to post it themselves.
According to the non-profit, it provides bail funds for low-income individuals who have been given the opportunity to post bail before a trial but are unable to afford it.
Many people end up sitting in jail awaiting their court date because they can’t afford to post bail — which is often times less than a $1,000, according to officials at the nonprofit.
“We provide immediate relief to those caught in this two-tier system of justice, restoring the presumption of innocence and bringing us closer towards an end to mass incarceration,” according to the organization’s website. “Cash bail criminalizes poverty, devastating low-income communities and disproportionately affecting women and people of color. Pretrial detention accounts for all jail growth in the U.S. in the past 20 years. We cannot end mass incarceration without addressing our indefensible bail system.”
The service allows the individual to be reunited with their friends and families while they await their trial date. The nonprofit also provides transportation to and from the court to those out on bond.
According to the nonprofit, the organization is in its pre-launch phase and is finalizing recruitment and hiring for its time in Cleveland. Operations are expected to commence in June.
Currently, the nonprofit operates in nearly a dozen locations across the country.
For more information about The Bail Project, click here.
